…she just likes to hear herself write

inchworm

We spent Memorial Day with my parents. They have a huge yard with many trees. With all the trees, come activities like pine cone collecting and bug hunting.

I know whenever I see all three kids in a full out run, sprinting from a tree to the house, that I’m in for a surprise. And if the “MOMMMMM!” call happens while they’re running, then it’s going to be a good one.

This time it was an inchworm.

Or, maybe a caterpillar.

Either way, Ava found a little critter who has now become her new “pet.” She was so excited! Grandma found an empty sherbet container and I poked holes in the top. Ava then assembled a little suite for her pet consisting of a variety of leaves, clover and others plants(?).

After supper, we started our drive back to Plainfield. We hadn’t driven long before Ava realized she left her inchworm at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. “You have to go back!” she cried. I was tired & the last thing I wanted was to turn around. We made our 9 hour trek from Tennessee the day before and we had another two hours to drive that night. I glanced up in the rearview and met her eyes. “This is important,” they said.

***

You know what? I used to think it was the big things that spoke love best to my children: a surprise vacation to Disney World, a trip to Cancun or new bikes. Don’t get me wrong, these grand gestures are special and fun, but they are also few and far between. But, everyday I have the chance to show them in little ways how much I love them: whether it’s writing a note on a napkin and placing it in Ava’s lunchbox, an impromtu picnic or baking their favorite cookie. I used to underestimate the significance these little acts of love have over the long haul. But, over time, I’ve learned that my kids remember them as much as the big things. So, I try to tune in more to simple acts and make the most of their opportunity to gift love.

The decision to go back or not for Ava’s inchworm was a perfect example. Yeah, I know…it’s just a worm or caterpillar and we’ll probably let him go by the end of the week. But, it’s really not about the worm. I want my kids to know I value the things which are important to them – not because of the object itself (one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, right?), but because of what it means to them.

***

So, I pulled off the road and headed back to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Ava gathered up her worm and we were soon on the road again. After driving a bit, I teasingly suggested she name her pet “Mommy’s the Best.”

“But Mom,” she replied, “I already named him Inchy.”

Ava with Inchy

A closer view of Inchy (yep, we turned around for this little thin brown worm 🙂 )